Melbourne man on terror charges gets bail

Date: December 11 2012

Belinda Merhab

A Melbourne man accused of collecting al-Qaeda magazines that describe how to engage in violent jihad has been granted bail to support his heavily-pregnant wife.

Adnan Karabegovic, 24, is charged with four counts of collecting documents connected with the preparation of a terrorist act, following the discovery of the magazines at his home in the southeast Melbourne suburb of Officer during September police raids.

He was granted bail on a $500,000 surety in the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday after Justice David Beach found the impending birth of Karabegovic's first child was an exceptional circumstance.

Karabegovic was refused bail by a magistrate in September after the court heard he considered Australians to be "dirty convict pigs" and "filthy kafir" and was committed to a course of action that conflicted with the community.

He spoke of a wish to train in Bosnia and had a piece of paper with the names of bomb-making chemicals secreted in the back of a picture frame at his home, it was alleged in court.

Bail was granted on Tuesday on the basis that Karabegovic surrender his passport and remain at an address at Hallam, except when reporting to police twice a day, meeting with his lawyers, or being with his wife in hospital for the birth.

He was ordered not to have any association with the Al-Furqan Islamic Information Centre or anyone associated with it.

Karabegovic, who was clean-shaven and dressed in a suit, was supported in court by his father and wife.

His lawyer, Michael O'Connell, SC, argued there were several reasons why Karabegovic should be granted bail.

He said Karabegovic's wife depended on him and his family for support and that his client would likely spend a year in custody before his matters were heard at trial.

"We say that delay is relatively significant," Mr O'Connell said.

"It's submitted that the case against the applicant is not a strong case."

Mr O'Connell said Karabegovic had no prior convictions and had stable accommodation, strong family support and extensive ties to the jurisdiction.

Justice Beach said he had to weigh up Karabegovic's exceptional circumstances with the protection of the community.

The conditions of Karabegovic's bail ensured there would not be an unacceptable risk to community safety, he said.

"I am satisfied exceptional circumstances exist in this case relating specifically to the position of the applicant's wife," he said.

Karabegovic will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal hearing on April 8.

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